Hillfields Farm Pangbourne: A perfect venue for a fun and relaxed wedding
Ah, so you want to know more about a relaxed wedding venue with a champagne-serving donkey? Well, if you're looking for a one-of-a-kind wedding experience, then you have to check out the latest trend in wedding venues: corkage free, totally flexible, an abundance of spaces… and Mrs Durrell the Champagne Donkey.
Located just outside Pangbourne, near Reading, Hillfields Farm is a barn wedding venue with a family run, authentic vibe. It’s one of my favourites for fun weddings ‘cause you can just do what you want!
I’ve been to Hillfields Farm a number of times, but most recently I was there to photograph for Yvonne and Rich Erickson-Spark when they married in October 2022 in front of family and friends. They both got ready on site in the newly built accommodation (they’re converted stables with mini-kitchens and ensuite bedrooms!) so it was easy for me to go and visit Yvonne for a bit of bonus prep time.
She had the most beautiful modern yet classic dress, a lace sleeved plunging neckline number… Bloody stunning.
This is one of the times in a wedding I feel the most privileged and that’s the most special… how awesome it is to capture the fizzy energy. The looming anticipation that sometimes people feel as nerves…
Being so close onsite yet completely and utterly out of the way is such a bonus at Hillfields… you can relax knowing you’re nearby but no one is going to see you/get in the way!
P.S - check out Yvonne’s Dad gazing at her across the room just below… these are the things I see 🥺
ANYWAY.
The ceremony space is in the Kings Barn at Hillfields Farm, it’s the side of the barn with the sunken seating and where folks can have their ceremonies (there’s also an outdoor ceremony space at this venue!)
Yvonne and Rich had a traditional ceremony here, with Rich waiting at the top of the aisle for the Bride and entourage. They were played in by the awesome Sonore String Quartet, too - they’re great!
Their ceremony was a little emotional, and full of smiles with a lovely reading to boot. The Kings Barn at Hillfields has those enormous doors behind and stunning woodwork, plus plenty of space to seat all those guests…
Yvonne and Rich grinned their way through it all, can you blame them? It was a low stress, relaxed and intimate ceremony - the perfect set up for the rest of the day.
“I cannot tell you how much we love them! You’ve captured the day so perfectly. It was so fun to look back through them as we really feel that you’ve told the story of the day.
I can’t believe how you have managed to capture people’s characters, and them having such fun. The formal photos are beautiful too.
It was so wonderful to have you there on the day - you made us and everyone else feel so relaxed which really comes across in the pictures. We can’t thank you enough!
You are a superstar! We’ll be recommending you to everyone!!”
The way I like to explain group photos and confetti and the best times for this is to get you to ask your registrar to let everyone know about your confetti plans - weather permitting we'll go out of the big barn doors onto the lawn, so it makes sense for us to form a line outside after the ceremony.
After that, if you'd like it to be all in one hit, I can give everyone a shout saying we want to get the group shot. The "Pros" of this are that you get it out of the way and done, but it does often make sense to then do all the other groups at the same time too and that can be a bit relentless when all you and everyone else wants to do is have a chat, drink and a catch up (The "Cons")!
What I end up doing more often than not is doing some confetti and then letting you have half an hour or so of mingling and enjoying your wedding while I capture some candid people having fun photos. I'll then look to do some group photos somewhen in the middle of your drinks reception when it feels right (and sometimes to suit the weather). It means that you can then do half an hour of standing in a line getting told to smile before you get another break for actually enjoying yourselves!
We then headed out into the grounds of Hillfields Farm for some couple photos. The thing I love about working here is that Becky and the team are super relaxed about where you can go for pictures, and there’s so many beautiful bits! The barn doors are cool, Mrs Durrell the Champagne Donkey is cool and the view out of Hillfields across the landscape is utterly stunning… the sunset there on an October wedding is absolutely LUSH.
I tend to go for a quick 15/20 minute walk around with you before the meal, and the gardens behind the barn and stables is beautiful, as is the black barn wall itself and as I say… that view over the fields at Hillfields Farm really is quite something. The sun sets onto those hills, so the light at that time is simply perfect for couple photos!
Having a walk around means we can stay relaxed and you’ll not feel TOTALLY AWKWARD. I like to set tasks, like drunk walking, or drawing a shape on the other person’s cheek with your nose (it’s usually a willy, and gets a laugh!)… there’s so many tricks up my sleeve for making you feel relaxed and letting you have fun while having your wedding photos taken.
It doesn’t have to be stuffy, and it won’t be with me!
Next up was speeches and wonderful food by Fingers and Forks in the other side of Hillfields’ two barns… your reception will most likely be in The Queen’s Barn. You have a lovely long sit down, fill yourselves up on amazing wedding food and laugh yourself silly at jokes (with a few speeches tears in the mix)… it’s really needed after being on the go all that time.
Yvonne and Rich had been together a really long time, and so the Best Man surprised them and had the whole room in uproar laughing at the now TikTok famous blowing dust joke!
After that we went straight into a cake cutting, dance fest with a live band, and then that’s it - you’re just dancing the night away.
The wedding day truly flies; l know it because couples tell me all the time, but also because I’ve been through it myself. Truly it’s a blur, and all we have afterwards are the photos which bring it all rushing back, and a boatload of cake in the freezer.
Music: Sonore String Quartet
Food: Fingers and Forks
Evening music: Anthem Music Agency
Want me as your fun, relaxed photographer at Hillfelds Farm in Pangbourne? Check out my portfolio, or get in touch to check my availability below!